Brawls break out during Red Wings' 8-2 win over Calgary Flames

Brawls broke out between the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames during the third period of a game the Wings would go on to win, 8-2.
Detroit Free Press

Fight breaks out in front of the benches during a time out in the third period of the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena.(Photo: Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports)

“That’s what I like to call OTH — old time hockey,” he said. “I think it’s good for the fans. Leave it on the ice. Guys were happy with the win, the amount of goals we had, and the emotions on the ice.”

The Detroit Red Wings racked up goals and penalties in Wednesday’s 8-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena, bringing fans to their feet throughout the game. Anthony Mantha completed a Gordie Howe hat trick when he fought Travis Hamonic with six minutes to go as brawls erupted and players spilled onto the ice. Mantha also had two goals and an assist; Athanasiou had two goals and an assist; Dylan Larkin had a goal and two assists; the other goal scorers were Gustav Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader and Luke Glendening.

“That was fun,” Jimmy Howard said. “Bit of everything for the fans.”

The Wings were up 6-2 when the period went from, as Jeff Blashill put it, “pretty boring,” to wildly entertaining. It began when, way behind the play, Witkowski beat up Brett Kulak, then challenged Travis Hamonic. That went nowhere as officials sent Witkowski to the penalty box.

A fight breaks out by the benches between the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 8-2. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Fight breaks out in front of the benches during a time out in the third period of the game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader (8) reacts after his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP

Gustav Nyquist #14 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his first period goal with teammates while playing the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

Anthony Mantha #39 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his second period goal with Frans Nielsen #51 while playing the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

874710008.jpg DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 15: Anthony Mantha #39 of the Detroit Red Wings takes a hit from TJ Brodie #7 of the Calgary Flames during the second period at Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

874712422.jpg DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 15: Justin Abdelkader #8 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his second period goal with teammates while playing the Calgary Flames at Little Caesars Arena on November 15, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

When officials charged Witkowski with a 10-minute misconduct, he exited the penalty box and went to the Wings bench to leave the game. That’s when Matthew Tkachuk slashed Witkowski in the back of the leg, prompting Witkowski to come back out on the ice, risking a suspension. Hamonic got involved, and Mantha responded.

“Seeing Witter fighting always feels good,” Mantha said. “Just going back to the bench, somebody speared Witter and that’s why he stayed on. I just tried to grab one guy and take him out out there. He dropped the gloves pretty quick so, I usually don’t stand down and that’s what I did.”

Mantha had foreshadowed earning a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, fight, assist) early in the third period. “I went up to Doubs and I’m like, ‘oh, I have a dance partner maybe already, do you?’ Anyway, Witter took care of my dance partner, so I had to take another one.”

Mantha and Hamonic ended up falling through the gate to the Wings’ bench.

“He was throwing punches and I still had my two gloves on,” Mantha said. “I just tried to push him over our bench to be able to drop one glove, at least. And I guess the door was open and we just fell right in.”

Linesman Scott Driscoll ended up on top of Mantha in an effort to separate the two.

“I was on the ground and he was throwing from underneath, so I didn’t know what to do,” Mantha said. “The official was on top of me so I couldn’t even get up and at the end there, I was like telling the ref to get up so I could move, and he just told me not to throw any more.”

Mantha ended up with two game misconducts; the Flames saw Tkachuk, Hamonic, and Mikael Backlund ejected.

Howard took part in the melee because “I felt like we were outnumbered so I felt like I needed to get in there for the guys.”

Howard was ornery, anyway, from an incident early in the third period when he slashed Tkachuk.

“Tkachuk tried to launch (Nick) Jensen onto me, and I took exception to that,” Howard said. “I missed three months last year because of guys falling on me and I’m not going to have any of that.”

Witkowski sounded surprised it got so out of hand.

“Somebody speared me in the back of the legs,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about it too much. I just felt somebody poke me in the back of the legs. Emotions were running high.”

The Wings signed Witkowski this summer because they of his physicality. Wednesday was just his eighth game, and he doesn’t play many minutes; his value is that he is there.

“I can tell you that I hear it from the bench — when Witter is in the lineup, they’re glad he is in the lineup” Blashill said. “I can hear their chatter. They know there is an element of physicality and toughness. He’s a good hockey player but he’s also tough. Our bench knows it when he is the lineup. You know someone is going to be out there sticking up for you."

Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg tried to play peacemaker between the two teams, who don't meet again this season.

“I’m not really sure what happened,” he said. “I was close to it but I didn’t really see what happened. But guys stood up for one another. We will probably have to see what is the aftermath with everything, but I am proud of all the guys.”

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.